Patna, August , 2026: Bihar is set to receive a major boost to rural development after Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the approval of 11,18,937 pucca houses for poor families in the state, backed by an allocation of ₹13,427 crore.

The announcement was made during a state-level Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana programme in Patna in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister Shri Samrat Choudhary and senior state government ministers. The initiatives announced at the event focused on housing, agriculture, farmer welfare, women’s economic empowerment and rural connectivity.

11.19 Lakh Houses Approved for Poor Families

Shri Chouhan said 11,18,937 pucca houses have been approved for Bihar, with ₹13,427 crore allocated for the programme. He described the initiative as more than an infrastructure project, saying a permanent home provides poor families with security, dignity and improved living conditions.

According to the Minister, the housing initiative reflects the government’s objective of ensuring that every poor family has access to a pucca house capable of providing protection from weather-related hardships.

Over 24 Lakh Houses Approved in Two Years

Highlighting the progress of the housing programme in Bihar, Shri Chouhan said that 24,30,327 houses have been approved over the past two years, involving expenditure of approximately ₹29,164 crore.

He emphasised that government schemes were increasingly focused on transparent and direct delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries. He also credited coordination between the Central and Bihar governments for accelerating implementation of rural housing programmes.

PM Fasal Bima Yojana to Be Implemented in Bihar

A major announcement for the agricultural sector was the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in Bihar.

The crop insurance scheme is intended to provide financial protection to eligible farmers against crop losses caused by natural calamities and adverse weather conditions, including floods, drought and excessive rainfall.

Shri Chouhan said protecting farmers from production risks was essential for strengthening Bihar’s agricultural economy. He also highlighted the importance of procurement, technology and other support systems in making agriculture more resilient and remunerative.

Focus on Lakhpati Didis and Women Entrepreneurs

Women’s economic empowerment was another key focus of the programme. Shri Chouhan highlighted the contribution of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and the growing number of women becoming Lakhpati Didis.

He said increasing the incomes of rural women through self-employment, group enterprises, financial services and market access could improve not only household incomes but also the broader rural economy.

She-Marts Planned to Expand Market Access

To help women entrepreneurs sell products produced through SHGs, Shri Chouhan said efforts would be made to establish She-Marts in every district.

The proposed markets are intended to provide women’s groups with better access to consumers and help them improve areas such as product development, packaging and marketing.

The initiative seeks to address a key challenge faced by rural women entrepreneurs: increasing production alone is insufficient unless products can reach sustainable markets.

Bihar Creates 53.83 Lakh Farmer IDs

Bihar has also made significant progress in the creation of digital Farmer IDs. Shri Chouhan said 53,83,000 Farmer IDs had already been created in the state.

Farmer identification is expected to facilitate more efficient delivery of government schemes and simplify the process of identifying eligible beneficiaries. The initiative is also aimed at improving transparency and strengthening digital delivery of agricultural services.

Roads, Housing and Agriculture as Rural Development Priorities

Shri Chouhan highlighted roads, houses and agriculture as three important pillars of rural development.

Improved rural roads can connect villages with markets and essential services, while pucca houses can provide greater security to families. At the same time, stronger agricultural systems can contribute to higher and more stable rural incomes.

He said coordinated efforts by the Centre and the Bihar government would be important for improving rural infrastructure, strengthening agriculture and accelerating the state's overall development.

The programme was attended by a large number of beneficiaries, women, public representatives and government officials. Several Bihar ministers and senior representatives were also present.

The announcements collectively place housing, farmer protection, digital identification, women's entrepreneurship and rural infrastructure at the centre of Bihar's ongoing rural development agenda.